Desiree Ellis: Banyana Banyana on right track for WAFCON after Malawi friendly win

Photo Credit: Football Association of Malawi

South Africa women’s national team coach Desiree Ellis has highlighted what impressed her the most in their 3-0 win over Malawi on Saturday. Both teams used the match to prepare for their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) assignments in July.

Ellis said the friendly at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus enabled her to assess how Banyana Banyana would cope with a physical side such as the Scorchers of Malawi.

“I think we are on the right track. For this game, we wanted the physicality because we know what Malawi can do, and they gave us that,” Ellis told the South African Football Association media.

Her Malawi counterpart Lovemore Fazili says the Scorchers drew lessons from the heavy defeat ahead of the WAFCON final qualifying match against Angola.

“The girls did not play as expected. We had problems in front and midfield and though the defence and goalkeeper tried. We have had a bad day. We have learnt some lessons through the game and going to the second match, we have seen the areas that need to be worked on,” he said.

Malawi were without star players Rose Kadzere, Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga after SAFA confirmed late the prospect of the matches which was shrouded in uncertainty.

Banyana Banyana won the game courtesy of Nonhlanhla Mthandi’s brace and Linda Motlal’s strike. The two teams will meet again at the same venue on 8 April, 2025.